Culture Food & Travel Restaurant & bar reviews

Tommi’s Burger Joint in Marylebone

Tommi’s Burger Joint in Marylebone | Restaurant review

London has no shortage of burger chains for insatiable carnivores and it’s pleasing to see Tommi’s Burger Joint – a Scandinavian-owned, former pop-up in London’s Marylebone district – taking up permanent residence despite an influx of rivals from the States. Their lip-smackingly good burgers are cooked on an American gas grill, enhancing the charcoal flavour and ensuring an authentic taste as first-rate as any experienced burger joint across the pond.

Curiously, the restaurant’s interior is more akin to a dockside fisherman’s shack than an inner city diner: wooden fixtures and furniture are paired with sufficient rope and wire netting to snare a thrashing shark! Added to exposed brickwork, colourful fairy lights, peeling plasterwork and endearing customer art drawn on takeaway bags, the intriguing décor is as fascinating as it is comfortable.

Partaking in the “Offer of the Century”- a burger, fries and soda for less than £10 – we were somewhat dismayed to realise that an appetising new range of milkshakes wasn’t included in the deal. However, the quality of the food, made with UK-sourced produce, quickly dispelled our disappointment and the milkshakes were promptly forgotten.

Our expertly cooked burgers – a medium-rare, single patty with no additional toppings and a well done cheeseburger – arrived neatly wrapped and nestled in a wicker basket alongside a liberal portion of crispy fries. Each delicious bite yielded a new release of flavour and texture, beginning with the smoky char of tender, coarsely-ground beef, followed by crunchy iceberg lettuce, red onion and fresh tomato, nicely complemented by a ketchup, mayonnaise and mustard-soaked brioche bun. The melted American cheese was just as it should be: a near flavourless, shiny square with the inexplicable ability to make everything taste even better.

Unfortunately, our meal came to an abrupt halt following the sighting of a short, dark hair buried among the golden French fries. Head chef Siggi Gunnlaugsson apologised profusely and explained that this was not the restaurant’s usual standard of service. Indeed, the venue was heaving with satisfied, returning customers, clearly indicating that our misfortune was likely to be a one-off incident. Compensated with vouchers for a complimentary meal, we remained to bask in the relaxing atmosphere with a cup of coffee, available to diners at no extra cost from a self-service station near the entrance.

Hairy shenanigans aside, Tommi’s Burger Joint is worthy of a prominent spot in any countdown of the best burger bars in London. The food was hugely gratifying and worthy of unbridled praise. A return visit is not so much a possibility as it is a certainty!

Food: 18/20
Drinks: 13/20
Service: 18/20
Tommi’s Burger Joint: 49/60

Niki Shakallis
Photos: Monika Jørgesen

For further information or to book a table at Tommi’s Burger Joint, 30 Thayer Street, London W1U 2QP, call 07823 557 945 or visit here.

More in Food & Drinks

Gian Paolo Bassi crafts the world’s most expensive Panettone – and it’s not only for Christmas

Food & Travel Desk

Japanese woodfire restaurant Kokin to launch atop The Stratford hotel

Food & Travel Desk

Michelin-starred chef Tom Kemble to open New York-style pizzeria, Spring Street Pizza

Food & Travel Desk

Soho’s Nessa launches weekly Salon of the Unruly art nights celebrating local talent

Food & Travel Desk

Ave Mario launches pre-theatre dinner menu in Covent Garden

Food & Travel Desk

Islington’s Little Bat Bar unveils new menu from chef James Cochran

Food & Travel Desk

Cotswolds Distillery launches two-for-one tours to celebrate inaugural English Whisky Week

Food & Travel Desk

Fulham Pier to open Riverside Market this summer

Food & Travel Desk

Mr Fogg’s Pawnbrokers in Soho introduces Topsy Turvy Tea, a cocktail-centric twist on traditional afternoon tea

Food & Travel Desk